Levi Johnston's mother said her 18-year-old son left Alaska this morning to join the Palin family at the convention where Sen. John McCain will officially receive the Republican nomination for president. The boy's mother, Sherry Johnston, said there had been no pressure put on her son to marry 17-year-old Bristol Palin and the two teens had made plans to wed before it was known she was pregnant.
"This is just a bonus," Johnston said.
The young man's presence could set off a media frenzy around the young couple as photographers and cameramen scramble for pictures. On Monday, Palin and her husband, Todd, said Bristol planned to have the baby and asked the media to respect the couple's privacy as has been the tradition with children of candidates.
Sarah Palin is scheduled to address the convention Wednesday night, and traditionally her family would join her at the conclusion of her speech.
Sherry Johnston said she was worried about her son dealing with all the attention. She said it is difficult enough for teenagers to deal with any pregnancy; having the entire nation watching makes it worse.
Levi Johnston, a hockey player for Wasilla High School, is not listed on the team roster for 2008-09, and his mother wouldn't say if he graduated. She said simply he's no longer a student and any further information would have to come from him.
The intense media scrutiny has stunned this suburban community about 40 miles north of Anchorage, with reporters camping out near the Johnston home.
"This is out of my league," Sherry Johnston said. "I'm just a country gal, and I want to keep it that way."
She spoke today while standing in the driveway leading to her pale gray, two-story home on a densely wooded country lane. The home, like many in Alaska, is adorned with moose and caribou antlers outside.
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